Transducer array release and pressure compensation system

Abstract

A transducer array release and pressure compensation system for releasing aose cone assembly from a cylindrical housing so as to deploy a plurality of transducer elements and pressure compensate the transducer elements. When hydrostatic pressure is applied to a bladder located within the nose cone assembly, the bladder pulls a release cable so as to release a split ring which secures the nose cone assembly to the cylindrical housing. The application of hydrostatic pressure to the bladder forces air from the nose cone assembly through a compensator airline to the transducer elements so as to pressure compensate the transducer elements.

I claim: 
     
       1. A transducer array release and pressure compensation system comprising in combination: a cylindrical housing having a permanently closed upper end and an open lower end, the lower end of said cylindrical housing having a plurality of teeth, each of which has located therein a groove;   a nose cone assembly having an outlet port, and a plurality of teeth in interlocking removable engagement with the teeth of said cylindrical housing, each tooth of said nose cone assembly having a groove therein in substantial alignment with the grooves of the teeth of said cylindrical housing;   signal sending means positioned within said cylindrical housing, said signal sending means having a plurality of inlet ports effectively connected to the outlet port of said nose cone assembly for transmitting through a liquid a plurality of sound waves;   pressure compensating means located within said nose cone assembly and secured thereto for varying the air pressure within said signal sending means when hydrostatic pressure is applied to said pressure compensating means so as to prevent the fracturing of said signal sending means when hydrostatic pressure is applied thereto; and   securing means adapted to fit within the grooves of the teeth of said nose cone assembly and said cylindrical housing, and effectively connected to said pressure compensating means for releasing said nose cone assembly from said cylindrical housing when hydrostatic pressure is applied to said pressure compensating means.   
     
     
       2. The transducer array release assembly and pressure compensation system according to claim 1, wherein said nose cone assembly comprises: a nose cone having a plurality of teeth in removable interlocking engagement with the teeth of said cylindrical housing and a shoulder located near the upper portion thereof, the shoulder of said nose cone having an aperture passing therethrough, and   a bladder housing having an annular flange mounted upon the shoulder of said nose cone, and annular flange having an aperture in substantial alignment with the aperture of the shoulder of said nose cone.   
     
     
       3. The transducer array release assembly and pressure compensation system according to claim 2, wherein said bladder housing is fabricated of a light weight porous material. 
     
     
       4. The transducer array release assembly and pressure compensation system according to claim 1, wherein said signal sending means comprises: a power source having an output;   a plurality of transducer elements each of which has an input connected to the output of said power source, and each of which has an inlet port;   a compensator airline effectively connected between the outlet port of said nose cone assembly and the inlet ports of said plurality of transducer elements; and   a quartet of equally spaced support cables, each of which has one end thereof connected to the upper portion of said cylindrical housing and each of which has the remainder thereof effectively connected to said plurality of transducer elements.   
     
     
       5. The transducer array release assembly and pressure compensation system according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of transducer elements comprises nine transducer elements. 
     
     
       6. The transducer array release assembly and pressure compensation system according to claim 1, wherein said pressure compensating means comprises a bladder. 
     
     
       7. The transducer array release assembly and pressure compensation system according to claim 1, wherein said securing means comprises: a split ring adapted to fit within the grooves of the teeth of said nose cone assembly and said cylindrical housing, said split ring having at one end thereof a first eyelet and at the opposite end thereof a second eyelet; and   a release cable attached at one end thereof to said pressure compensating means and with the opposite end thereof passing through the first and second eyelets of said split ring.   
     
     
       8. A transducer array comprising in combination: a cylindrical housing having a permanently closed upper end and an open lower end, the lower end of said cylindrical housing having a plurality of teeth, each of which has located therein a groove;   a nose cone assembly having an outlet port and a plurality of teeth, each of which has located therein a groove, the teeth of said nose cone assembly being in interlocking removable engagement with the teeth of said cylindrical housing such that the grooves thereof are in substantial alignment;   a split ring adapted to fit within the grooves of the teeth of said nose cone assembly and said cylindrical housing so as to secure said nose cone assembly to said cylindrical housing, said split ring having at one end thereof a first eyelet and at the opposite end thereof a second eyelet;   a bladder located within the upper portion of said nose cone assembly and secured thereto;   a release cable attached at one end thereof to said bladder and with the opposite end thereof passing through the first and second eyelets of said split ring such that application of hydrostatic pressure to the upper surface of said bladder causes the removal of said release cable from the first and second eyelets of said split ring so as to release said nose cone assembly from said cylindrical housing;   a plurality of transducer elements, each of which has an inlet port and an input, said plurality of transducer elements being located within said cylindrical housing; and   a compensator airline effectively connected to the outlet port of said nose cone assembly at one end thereof, with the remainder of said compensator airline effectively connected to the inlet ports of each of said plurality of transducer elements.   
     
     
       9. The transducer array according to claim 8, wherein said nose cone assembly comprises: a nose cone having a plurality of teeth in removable interlocking engagement with the teeth of said cylindrical housing, and a shoulder located near the upper portion thereof, the shoulder of said nose cone having an aperture passing therethrough; and   a bladder housing having an annular flange mounted upon the shoulder of said nose cone, said annular flange having an aperture passing therethrough in substantial alignment with the aperture of said nose cone.   
     
     
       10. The transducer array according to claim 9, wherein said bladder housing is fabricated of a light weight porous material. 
     
     
       11. The transducer array according to claim 8, wherein the outlet port of said nose cone assembly comprises: an aperture passing through said nose cone assembly; and   a threaded orifice having one end thereof inserted in the aperture of said nose cone assembly with the opposite end thereof effectively connected to the inlet ports of said plurality of transducer elements.   
     
     
       12. The transducer array according to claim 8, further characterized by a power source having an output effectively connected to the inputs of said plurality of transducer elements. 
     
     
       13. The transducer array according to claim 8, further characterized by four equally spaced support cables, each of which has one end thereof connected to the upper portion of said cylindrical housing and each of which has the remainder thereof effectively connected to said plurality of transducer elements.